Rotherham United: Millers will move again for club-record target

Paul Davis

Rotherham United are ready to bide their time and then go back for the transfer target that just got away.

Boss Steve Evans said the Millers were agonisingly close to pulling off a third signing on Monday’s transfer deadline day for a fee which would have dwarfed the club record they spent on striker Jonson Clarke-Harris.

“We’ll look at it again,” said Evans.

“We were very close on Monday, but just couldn’t quite agree on the structure of the fee. We’ll give it a couple of weeks. The amount we’re talking about would be a serious club record.”

The figure involved is thought to be around the £1 million mark.

As well as bringing in 20-year-old Clarke-Harris from Oldham Athletic, Evans also beat off interest from several fellow Championship clubs to land profilic former Leeds United striker Luciano Becchio from Norwich City on loan.

The acquisitions delighted the club’s followers, but Evans warned that the new duo will have to earn their places in the team.

“Competition is fierce,” he said. “As well as Jonson and Luciano, we have Alex Revell, Matt Derbyshire - another player with a proven scoring pedigree at a high level - and Jordan Bowery. You can also add Febian Brandy to that mix.

“The strikers picked will be those who deserve to be picked, and our decision will be based on application, desire and performance.”

Meanwhile, Brentford forward Scott Hogan, who was stretchered off against Rotherham last Saturday is set for a lengthy absence after suffering a “significant” knee injury.

The 22-year-old is an ex-Stocksbridge PS player.

Brentford head of medical Neil Greig said. “The short-term need is to consult with the leading knee specialist in the country and devise a management plan. Further information on timescales for the long term will be available following this week’s consultations.”